HI
Is there a model of the Pi to be used in Packaging and process industry available globally. Im thinking of using the Pi B+ but could not find any sufficient cases of the Pi being used in industrial applications. Is there anything lacking in the Pi ?

Last edited by atulkatti on Mon Dec 10, 2018 6:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

HI
Is there a model of the Pi for the industry available globally. Im thinking of using the Pi B+ but could not find any sufficient cases of the Pi being used in the industry. Is there anything lacking in the Pi ?

My application requires turning an AC motor on/off based on feedback from temp/pressure/proximity sensors. MY concern is that since this is a critical process, i want to be very careful. Hence checking if Pi is good for industrial purpose

My application requires turning an AC motor on/off based on feedback from temp/pressure/proximity sensors. MY concern is that since this is a critical process, i want to be very careful. Hence checking if Pi is good for industrial purpose

Well, I wouldn't use one for safety critical systems. We do not rate the OS or the hardware in that way. You probably want something more deterministic, like an Arduino.

Principal Software Engineer at Raspberry Pi (Trading) Ltd.
Contrary to popular belief, humorous signatures are allowed. Here's an example...
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wow, so you are saying that when it comes to critical applications the Arduino is more reliable than the Pi

No. The message you should take onboard is that the software running on an Arduino (a microcontroller) is much simpler and more deterministic. Raspbian on a RPi is a full blooded, multi-user, multi-tasking OS with interrupts and a scheduler. The consequences include some uncertainty about when any action will actually take place. That is a characteristic of most OS (on any computer) that are intended for general purpose "computing" as opposed to " real time controlling".

Almost all of the multitude of files on any RPi are not written by or on behalf of the RaspberryPi Foundation. No guarantees they are bug-free.

The Arduino is also much simpler, and you control all the software that runs on it, whereas in Linux there is probably 1000 times as much software running, almost all of which is code from elsewhere.

Now most of that code is pretty good (the kernel), but because there is so much of it, you cannot be absolutely sure. With something as simple as an Arduino running all your own code, you can be sure (or as sure as your testing allows), that it will do what you want, in the timescales you want.

Principal Software Engineer at Raspberry Pi (Trading) Ltd.
Contrary to popular belief, humorous signatures are allowed. Here's an example...
"My grief counseller just died, luckily, he was so good, I didn't care."

Proper industrial PLCs are EXPENSIVE and it is often tempting to look at $30 hobbyist boards and wonder if they'd work. They probably _could_ work but the actual cost of using one would end up being more than that of using a proper PLC.

Equipment used in various scenarios generally needs to be certified to meet standards for safety and other factors. The cost of certifying a custom solution is usually so high that building a solution with pre-certified off-the-shelf industrial gear ends up being less.

A really simple at-home example of this is those cheap IOT light switches from China. Most of them have no certification, and under most home fire insurance policies, if it burns your house down, you're screwed.

I think it depends where you want to use it for. If you want to control a machine, like the topic starter, you need a dedicated PLC. Like I told him before. But, if you use him to get extra information about your process, with additional extra sensors. It will not harm anything, at least until someone get a inspection??

And there are product out there that are suitable for a Industrial use, like the BeagleBone Black Industrial. But with the same remarks about controlling machines.

Okay let me explain it a little bit more.
First of all, I don't know what your knowledge is electronics how familiar you are in this subject. And what it takes to make an industrial machine that is save.

Let's assume that you can use that controller, Rpi, BBB. Do you have the knowledge to make for instance the input of that device robust? That the noise, ESD, EMF,.. will not have a an impact on that signal. As an example, you wanted to use the ds1820, what happens when the sensor breaks down, do you need a back up? Or what happens when you did not mount the cable in a proper way, and it short all the connection to each other. Can the controller handle that, or will he die from that event. And let the machine in a unsafe condition.

My advice is stick to tried and tested PLC ,for your plant control,, Easy to programme and maintain
They will work withe all the sensors you want to use through in/put & out/put modules ( A/D)
Easy to interface with production line panels relays and contacters, no need to worry about voltage
And current leveling .Easy to trouble shoot ,Remember plant down time costs money

SAFTY All programming must be FAIL TO SAFE, All Isolating must be Manual